Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-01-06
THE PETRIFlED HERMIT.

The old adago The way the twig is
bent the trees inclined, is something
we have all heard from our childhood
up. Never was the truth of the saying
more forcibly illustrated than In the
person of John Solus, n brown, knottv
little man, resembling in appearance n
stuntod apple-tree. For his personal
ugliness he was not to blame. AS for
his disposition. ne had a peevish one to
begin with; and when he was child
his parents indulgence tended to bend
the little twig more than ever from the
straight line. John was an only child
and no restrictions were ever placed
upon his will
The sorrowlul appeal of mother
bird, rs he made OFF with her nest of
beautiful eggs, never touched his heart
with pity. Cats and dogs fled in terror
when they saw him coming and little
ones Younger than himself dreaded his
approach. The boy was always in
trouble. He not only received ample
blame for his own mischief. but like all
other reprobates, was obliged TO father
the sins that did not belong 10 him.
>
followed the calling of his father and
became stone-cutter AT twenty-ono
the young man married n home-loylng
girl OF nineteen. rosy-cheekod, bright
eyed and healthy The young wife
seemed to get on very well with her
surlN sombre-fuccd husband, for
time, though conversation generally
Jagged in the Solus Homestead.
limo passed ON, The rosy honey
moon was thing of the past 1t was
not 4 very happy life all in all for
Janet but when n little child's sweet,
innocent face appeared, things bright
ened wonderfully for the little mother
Janets love for baby Madgo seemed
to aggrayate her husband, and she
many times felt obliged to restrain her
affection for it when he was present
Yes, John Solus was jealous of his own
child. Ills wifes love was divided, and
the innocent babe brought with it tho
first real seed OF discord in the already
monotonous household. Other children
were added TO the Sous family and.
with the advent of each, John grew
more grumpy and eXacling. The pass
/
woman with five children five growing
twigs 10 bend in the right direction.
Jonu's heart seemed to be turning to
stone He never played with his chill
dreu but found fault with them incess-
anty, until they learned to dread his
approaching footsteps. No young arms
were flung about his neck, no fresh,
sweet kisses were layisned upon his
lips; Dut bush fell upon all the merry
makers whom he entered the door. Aft
er time John commenced wandering
off by himself. leaving no word with his
patient wife as 10 where he was going.
or when he would return. These abb
sences were the chldren's holidays,
though poor Janet sorrowed deeply over
the fathers queer ways. John declared
Janet set his children against him, and
he grew 50 suspicious Of his two sons
that he really seemed to hate them. The
boys were now their mothers main de-
pendence, aGd they and their father
could not agree,
One day in Fl Of jealous anger John
raised his hand to strike his wife, and
the boys, in their righteous Indignation.
caught and held him fast The frantic
man, after cursing Janet and the whole
family, rushed from the house, paying
no heed TO the gray-hared widowed
mother who called piteously to him TO
return. On he rushed. stamping upon
the ground in his passionate rage, more
like fierce untamed animal than like
Il human being. Farther and farther
he travelled from home until he left
mauv weary miles behind MIN. Tired
and exhausted at last, he crawled into
lonely cave in the midst Of deep
wood, aud fell asleep.
John Solus did not return TO his
family He worked here and there in
the neighborlng quarries as time aud
necessity prompted, and slept in the
lonely cave at night, until he became
known throughout the region as the
hermit Of Meadowrile.
Pretty Madge Solus was married this
morning. How time nicsi IL seemed
but Yesterday that she was lassie
John Solus started as these words OF a
fellow-labOrer fell upon his ear. His
tools fell TO the ground he could work
no more that day. Quietly leaving the
quarry he walked long distance lost
in deep thought
Possessed by feeling Of wild unrest,
he commenced climbing narrow,
oyergrown path that led up the side Of
high mountain. Talking to himself
and breathing hard, up higher and
higher be went, until nearly exhausted
he stopped to rest lie bent both ell
bows back into a creyice in the rocks,
and leaned back tired and at war with
the world. Far below him lay the
quiet meadows dotted here and there
with peaceful houses. A beautiful grove
Of pines looked like mere toy-trees in